Accommodation

New Zealand Motels

Motels are the most popularway of accommodation in New Zealand. There is a wide selection of great motels all over the country catering for a wide range of budgets.

Almost all motels offer private cooking fridge, facilities, TV, ensuite bathroom, telephone and a separate bedroom and lounge. Smaller studios have an open bedroom area plan lounge. There are motels offering larger family apartments, having two or more bedrooms. A larger motel will offer extra facilities such as a swimming pool, laundry,restaurant and children’s playground.

Toursts are paying from NZ$120 to $140 per night for a studio and larger family apartments costs usualy around NZ$160 /night. You can expect to pay a higher price for luxury motels in larger cities. You should book in advance especially if you plan to arrive in the peak season (December – February) and in resorts with limited accommodation.

New Zealand Hotels

New Zealand offers a wide range of hotels, from well known international chains available in the main cities, to smaller independent hotels around the country. The established hotels offer reliable standards in accommodation with all the facilities required such as ensuite minibars, bathrooms, room service, televisions, restaurants and bars.

Prices vary throughout the week and depending on hotels. Hotel rates start from NZ$120 / night for a basic room to more for luxurious rooms.

New Zealand Apartments

New Zealand has a good range of apartment style self-contained accommodation available, however this style of accommodation is mainly found in the larger towns and resort areas. Some apartments are serviced on a regular basis (like motels and hotels), some are not. In many cases the boundaries between hotels, motels and apartments are quite blurred.

Apartments are a good choice for visitors and corporate travellers requiring self-catering accommodation, with prices varying depending on the length of stay. Some apartments are tailored specifically for longer term guests and can offer attractive discounts.

Bed & Breakfast, Guesthouses and Homestays

Bed & Breakfast, Guesthouses, Farmstays and Homestays can offer tourists an insight into the home life of New Zealand. This type of accomodation varies from a room in a imple family home to an historic country cottage, or even a lighthouse!

Facilities such as bathroom may be ensuite or shared, breakfasts can be fresh bread and fruit, self-catered cereal or huge home cooked meals. Farmstays offer tourists the option of helping them with the daily work on the farm; Rates vary starting from NZ$80 per night.

New Zealand Camping

Camping is an excellent, and cheap way to experience New Zealand. Camping stores in the main centres offer a range of tents and camping equipment for those without their own gear, and is relatively economical to buy if planning an extended trip.

New Zealand has an extensive selection of campsites throughout the country, often in spectacular locations near forests, lakes or beaches. Campsites range from Dept of Conservation sites in remote locations with basic facilities, to holiday parks with hot showers, laundry and kitchen facilities, even swimming pools, play areas and Internet access! Many holiday parks also offer caravan, cabin and motel accommodation. Prices range from NZ$2 per person per night at basic Dept of Conservation sites.

New Zealand Luxury Lodges

Luxury retreats and sporting lodges are the most priced type of accommodation in New Zealand. Their offer is available only to a limited number of tourists and offer excellent high standards of service, lavish surroundings and great food. These luxury lodges are located in wonderful locations near rivers, lakes, beaches or mountains.

There is often a range of activities provided, both at the lodge and in its vicinity, to entertain guests. Many lodges specialise in hunting and fishing activities, with personal guides for those wishing to turn their hand to these pursuits. Prices usually starts from NZ$400 per tourist per night and can go up to a couple thousand dollars per night.

Motorhomes & Campervans

Motorhomes or campervans are a popular way to tour New Zealand. They range in size and onboard facilities from basic 2 berths to 6 berths with a dining table, shower, toilet and microwave. There is a selection of companies in the main centres that rent out motorhomes for reasonable rates.

Prices vary greatly especially from season to season. A 2 berth motorhome costs around NZ$70 per day in the low season (May to September) but rises to NZ$125 per day in the summer months. Expect to pay around NZ$290 per day for a larger motorhome in the high season. There are an abundance of camping grounds throughout the country where motorhomes can park for the night, many offering serviced sites where electricity is available.

New Zealand Backpacking

New Zealand is a great travel destination for backpackers and there is a wide network of accommodation for backpackers throughout the country. Hostels are providing clean, cheap and basic accommodation for backpackers travelling on a tight budget. Accommodation rates ranges from a simple room in a dormitory, to a nice private room with a double bed. Shared facilities usually include a lounge area, kitchen and a laundry. Prices starts from NZ$12 for a bed in a dormitory with some additional charges for bedding hire if needed.

As well as the YMCA, Youth Hostel Association and YWCA hostels, there are travel networks such as Budget Backpacker Hostels and VIP Backpacker Resorts International NZ Ltd . Various independent hostels are also operating throughout the country, in many popular tourist centres and places in between.

Qualmark Grading Scheme

Many accommodation and tourism services in New Zealand are rated using the Qualmark scheme. The scheme is run by the New Zealand tourism board in conjuction with the New Zealand Automobile Association.

The ratings range from one star (acceptable) to five star (exceptional), with different criteria applying to each category of accommodation offered. For instance it is possible for a budget backpackers to get a five star rating.